Hyeres, France (April 17, 2013) – Following on the previous ISAF Sailing World Cup event in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, a group of American sailors, including members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider and US Sailing Development Team, will compete against 800 sailors from 50 countries in France’s premier Olympic classes regatta, ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres. Photos, video interviews and reports from the racecourse will be posted on US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider website, and posted on Facebook and Twitter channels.
“With each competition in international fleets, U.S. sailors gain valuable experience and training,” said Josh Adams, Managing Director of U.S. Olympic Sailing (Essex, Mass.). “ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres will be similar in fleet size to Palma and provide another opportunity for sailors to gauge where they are this first year of the 2016 quad.”
U.S. athletes competing:
470 Women – Anne Haeger (East Troy, Wis.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.)*
470 Women – Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif.) and Sarah Lihan (New York, N.Y.) * **
49er – Fred Strammer (Nokomis, Fla.) and Zach Brown (San Diego, Calif.)*
49er – Ryan Pesch (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) and Trevor Burd (Marblehead, Mass.)*
49er – Brad Funk (Miami, Fla.) and Erik Aakhus (Corona del Mar, Calif.)**
49er FX – Kristen Lane (Tiburon, Calif.) and Christine Neville (Oakland, Calif.) **
Finn – Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.)*
Finn – Gordon Lamphere (Lake Forest, Ill.)*
Laser – Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.)*
Laser – Erik Bowers (Excelsior, Minn.)
RS:X Women – Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.)
* Denotes member of US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
** Denotes member of US Sailing Development Team
Racing starts Monday, April 22 and concludes with the medal race on Saturday, April 27 in the 10 Olympic Classes. Racing was cancelled in the SKUD-18 class. There are no Americans competing in the 2.4mR and Sonar classes. Results will be posted online at the event’s website.
About the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. The top boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class are selected annually to be members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. US Sailing supports these elite athletes with funding, coaching and training. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry Top-Sider; other sponsors include Harken Team McLube. Yale Cordage is a supplier. Oakcliff Sailing is an official training center.
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
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Contact: Dana Paxton, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, 401-683-0800, x615, danapaxton@ussailing.org
Photo caption: 470 Women’s bronze medalists at ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma, Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha, will compete at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres. Credit: Mick Anderson/US Sailing